Improvement in apparatus for kindling the fires of steam-engines



1 C. L. SCOVILLE.

1 APPARATUS FOR KINDLING THE FIRES OF STEAM-ENGINES.

\ N0- 181,30. I Patented Sept. 5,1876.

NPETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WlSNlNGYON. D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT Cr mea;

CHARLES L. SCOVILLE, OF ASHTABULA, OHIO.

..|MPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR KINDLING THE FIRES OF STEAM-ENGINES,

- Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 181,800, datedSeptember 5,1876; application filed May 29, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES L. ScovrLLE, ofAshtabula, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Kindling the Fire of aSteam-Engine, of which the following is a specification, reference beingbad to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improved'apparatus for kindling the fire ofa steam fire-engine, locomotives in round-houses, and other analogousdevices.

The object of the invention is 'to hasten the ignition of the fuel inthe fire-box, and thus speed the production of steam in theboiler. Theelements of the invention are hereinafter more specifically described.

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a deviceembodying the elements of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of same,partly in section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the line a.

1n the accompanying drawings, A denotes aflue or chimney, suitablyplaced, and preferably constructed of metal. Within the base of thischimney or pipe is provided the section of pipe or cylinder B, arrangedso that its upper parts can slide within the lower parts of the pipe A,and having about its center the annular ridge a, to prevent its passingtoo far up into the pipe above, the base of the cylinder B being madebell-mouthed, or conical, or otherwise suitably conformed to fit snuglyover the top of the chimney or smoke-stack of the engine when placeddirectly below it.

Thus, when the cylinder B is down, a direct communication is establishedwith the chimney, the draft whereof is thus communicated to the grate ofthe fire-box on the engine, which is one of the objects of theinvention. To the cylinder B are secured the eyebolts b, to which areattached the lower ends of the links D, the-upper ends of which passthrough perforations at each end of the forked lever E, which is pivotedat about its center in the jaws of the hanger d, whence it extendsoutward, its extremity being connected by a threaded screw eyebolt, e,to the chain or rope F. The weight of the cylinder B is such as toovercome that of the devices connected to the other end of the lever F;hence, to prevent the constant contact of the cylinder and smoke-stack,there is provided the spring-stud H, with which the lever comes incontact, and which arrests the ascent of the part opposite the fork;

By throwing back'this stud the cylinder B de scends instantly to placeupon the smoke-stack. The lower end of the rope or chain F is 0011-nected with the extremity of the arm f, the base whereof is rigidlysecured to the shaft I, working in the bearings h at each end, andhaving at the end of the shaft opposite the arm fanother arm, '6, whichprojects upward and is fixedly secured at its base to the shaft I, insuch position that its upper extremity may be encompassed by the hook Ior other suitable device secured to the engine.

The relation of the arms f and i is such that, when the former is beingoperated by the chain F through the ascent of the end of the lever E, towhich it is attached, the latterthat is to say, the arm il-shall standin a nearly vertical position. To keep the engine in such position asthat, the cylinder B -may, when depressed, cover the smoke-stack,

as aforesaid. Two plates, M, are provided, having their inner surfacesfurnished with the curved chocks L, all so placed that, when the rearwheels of the engine are in contact with the chocks, the smoke-stackshall be directly below the cylinder B, and also so that the hook I canbe placed about the upper end of the armf, though it is evident that anyother means that will establish the position of the engine, asaforesaid, will answer the purpose of this portion of the invention.

The object of the threaded screw eyebolt e is to regulate the elevationof the cylinder B to engines having smoke-stacks of varying heights, thespring-stud H being appropriately conformed.

The weightof the attachments upon the outer end of the lever E should beless than that of the pipe B.

Operation: The engine being in such position that the rear of its rearwheels is in contact with the curved chocks L, and the pipe or cylinderB elevated and so retained by the spring-stud H, an alarm of fire beinggiven, or it being desired to fire up? the engine, the spring-stud H isretracted, which releases the lever E, whereupon the cylinder of pipe Binstantly descends upon the smoke-stack of the engine, and thus thedraft of the chimney A is communicated to the grate of the engine. Atthe same time, the descent of the pipe B elevates the opposite end ofthe lever E, drawing the chain F taut, thus raising the arm)",-

and bringing the rear of the arm t in contact with the inner arch of thehook I, so that when the fire is properly kindled the engine can startat once; for, by its movement, the hook I draws down the arm t, thusdepressing the arm f, at the other end of the shaft 1, which operatesthe chain F, causing the outer end of the lever E to descend, thuselevating its opposite end, and so lifting the pipe B clear of thesmoke-stack of the engine, so thatrit can start the instant the fire isunder suffi- 7 What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-.-'

1. The pipe or tubular-shaped device B, provided with a suitably-shapedmonth vfor connecting the smoke-stack of an engine with a deviceaffording a draft, in combination with a means of elevating or freeingsaid device B by the movement of the engine, substantially as specified.v

2. The threaded eye-bolt e, in combination with the lever E, spring-studH, and pipe B, as expressed.

3. The chain or rope F, eyebolt a, lever E, and pipe B,-in combinationwith the shaft I, having the arms f and i, substantially as set forth;

4. The plates M, having thechocks L, arranged in relation to each other,to the pipe A, and the shaft I, provided with the arms f, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in apparatus forkindling the fire of a steam-engine, as above described,-I have hereuntoset my hand this 13th dayof May, 187 6.

CHARLES I4- S -QVIL Witnesses:

E. W. RICHARDS, L. H. JACKSON.

